How hard is it to get the Amex Platinum, and what do you need to qualify?

Most travel credit cards require applicants to have good credit to be approved. American Express doesn’t publish a required benchmark score, but if you have a strong credit score, you have strong approval odds.

Why get the Amex Platinum card? Is it worth it?

Though the annual fee is high, the number of benefits received from the card makes it worth it to many people when you factor in the airport lounge access, several annual credits, and other benefits like hotel elite status. Given the number of luxury benefits you receive from having the card, it’s well worth it if you can afford the annual fee. Read above for more details.

What is the Amex Platinum card annual fee? Can I add additional users?

See the card summary table listed above for the annual fee. If you wish to add an Additional Platinum Card to the account, you can add users for an additional annual fee (rates & fees). Each additional user of the card receives all of the same benefits as the main cardmember except their own statement credits. You also have the option of adding up to 99 Companion Platinum Cards for no additional annual fee (rates & fees). Keep in mind that while these cards have the same earning rates as the Amex Platinum card, they receive none of the elite benefits.

What airport lounges do you get access to with the Amex Platinum card?

With American Express Global Lounge Collection you can get access to over 1,550 airport lounges globally, including The Centurion Lounge, Escape Lounges, Lufthansa Lounges when flying Lufthansa Group airlines (access ends October 1, 2026), Plaza Premium, Priority Pass™ Lounges, and additional Global Lounge Collection partner lounges, subject to limitations. Lounges may have their own rules, like additional access rules and guest fees. For Priority Pass, you need to enroll, and there are unlimited airport lounge visits for cardmembers. When traveling on eligible Delta flights, cardmembers receive 10 visits to the Delta Sky Club to be used from February 1 until January 31 of the next calendar year and can unlock unlimited Delta Sky Club access by spending $75,000 in eligible purchases on their card in a calendar year.

Why is the Amex Platinum card annual fee so high?

The Amex Platinum card’s annual fee is tied to the number of benefits it offers. While the value of a card is subjective, you’d be hard-pressed to find another card with more perks, protections, and annual credits for a lower annual fee than the Amex Platinum card.

Who qualifies for the Amex Platinum card?

Anyone is eligible to apply for the Amex Platinum card provided they are 18 or older, have a U.S. Social Security number, and have a U.S. address. Whether or not you are approved comes down to factors including your credit score, income, and length of credit history.

What is the credit limit on the Amex Platinum card?

The Amex Platinum card doesn’t have a preset credit limit. However, this doesn’t mean you have unlimited spending power. Your purchasing power adjusts from month to month based on the use of your card, payment and credit history, and financial resources. “No preset spending limit” means your spending limit is flexible. Unlike a traditional card with a set limit, the amount you can spend adapts based on factors such as your purchase, payment, and credit history.

Amex Platinum Card: Full Review [2026]

Updated: July 14, 2026, 7:06am CDT

Edited by:

We may be compensated when you click on a link, when an application is approved, or when an account is opened from one or more of our advertising partners. Terms apply to the offers below. See our Advertising Policy for more about our partners, how we make money, and our rating methodology. Opinions and recommendations are ours alone.

BEST LOUNGE CARD

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

Platinum Card^® from American Express

U.P. Rating

4.59

Apply Now(at Amex's secure site)

Apply With Confidence

Know if you're approved with no credit score impact

If you're approved and accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.

Welcome Offer
You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards^® points after you spend $12,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary, and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount — all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
As High as 175,000 Points. Find Out Your Offer.
Annual Fee
$895
APR
See Pay Over Time APR
Credit Recommended
Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.
Good to Excellent

Platinum Card^® from American Express

The Amex Platinum card reigns supreme for luxury travel, offering the best airport lounge access plus generous statement credits, and elite status.

U.P. Rating

4.59

Apply Now(at Amex's secure site)

Apply With Confidence

Know if you're approved with no credit score impact

If you're approved and accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.

Summary

When it comes to cards that offer top-notch benefits, the Platinum Card^® from American Express is a top choice.

The card offers premium perks like best-in-class airport lounge access, hotel elite status, and several annual card credits. The Amex Platinum card is easily worth the annual fee for frequent travelers who use the lounges and travel credits, and hard to justify for those who won’t.

Card Details

Welcome Bonus & Info

You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards^® points after you spend $12,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
Get more for your travels with 5X Membership Rewards^® points on all flights and prepaid hotel bookings through American Express Travel^®, including Fine Hotels + Resorts^® and The Hotel Collection bookings. You earn 5X points on flights purchased directly from airlines or through American Express Travel^® on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year.
With over 1,550 airport lounges - more than any other credit card company on the market* - enjoy the benefits of the Global Lounge Collection, over $850 of annual value, with access to Centurion Lounges, 10 Delta Sky Club visits (subject to visit limitations) when flying on an eligible Delta flight, Priority Pass™ membership (enrollment required), and other select partner lounges. *As of 01/2026
$200 Uber Cash + $120 Uber One Credit: With the Platinum Card^® you can receive $15 in Uber Cash each month plus a bonus $20 in December when you add your Platinum Card^® to your Uber account to use on rides and orders in the U.S when you select an Amex Card for your transaction. Plus, when you use the Platinum Card^® to pay for an auto-renewing Uber One membership, you can get up to $120 in statement credits each calendar year. Terms apply.
$300 Digital Entertainment Credit: Experience the latest shows, news and recipes. Get up to $25 in statement credits each month when you use your Platinum Card^® for eligible purchases on Disney+, a Disney+ bundle, ESPN streaming services, Hulu, The New York Times, Paramount+, Peacock, The Wall Street Journal, YouTube Premium, and YouTube TV when you purchase directly from one or more of the providers. Enrollment required.
$600 Hotel Credit: Get up to $300 in statement credits semi-annually on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts^® or The Hotel Collection* bookings through American Express Travel^® using the Platinum Card^®. *The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
$400 Resy Credit + Platinum Nights™ by Resy: Get up to $100 in statement credits each quarter when you use the Platinum Card^® to pay for eligible purchases with Resy, including dining purchases at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants. Enrollment required. As a Platinum Card^® Member you have special access to reservations on select nights at participating sought after Resy restaurants in select cities through Platinum Nights™ by Resy. Simply add your Platinum Card^® to your Resy profile to book your reservation.
$219 CLEAR+ Credit: CLEAR+ helps get you to your gate faster by using your face to verify you are you at 55+ airports nationwide. You can cover the cost of a CLEAR+ Membership* with up to $219 in statement credits per calendar year after you pay for CLEAR+ with your Platinum Card^®. *Excluding any applicable taxes and fees. Subject to auto-renewal.
$200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees, such as checked bags and in-flight refreshments, are charged by the airline to the Platinum Card^® Account. American Express relies on airlines to submit the correct information on airline transactions to identify incidental fee purchases. If you do not see a credit for a qualifying incidental purchase on your eligible Card after 8 weeks, simply call the number on the back of your Card. Qualifying airlines are subject to change. See terms & conditions for more details.
Start your vacation sooner and keep it going longer. When you book Fine Hotels + Resorts^® through American Express Travel^®, enjoy noon check-in, when available, and guaranteed 4PM late check-out.
$300 lululemon Credit: Enjoy up to $75 in statement credits each quarter when you use the Platinum Card^® for eligible purchases at U.S. lululemon retail stores (excluding outlets) and lululemon.com. That’s up to $300 in statement credits each calendar year. Enrollment required.
$155 Walmart+ Credit: Get up to a $12.95* statement credit back each month after you pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) with your Platinum Card^®. *Up to $12.95 plus applicable taxes on one membership fee.
Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
$895 annual fee.
Terms Apply.

Card Categories

Rewards Center

American Express Membership Rewards

Customer Service Number

800-528-4800 (Available 24/7)

Login Link

https://www.americanexpress.com/

Pros & Cons

Pros

The best airport lounge access out of any card (by far): Get access to over 1,550 worldwide lounges, including Amex Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass lounges (enrollment required), Plaza Premium Lounges, and many more!
5 points per $1 spent on flights purchased directly with the airline or with AmexTravel.com (up to $500,000 per year)
5 points per $1 spent on prepaid hotels booked with AmexTravel.com
Annual and monthly statement credits upon enrollment (airline credit, Uber Cash and Uber One, Resy, lululemon credit, streaming credit, prepaid hotel credit on eligible stays, Walmart+ credit, CLEAR+ credit, Oura Ring credit, and Equinox credit)
TSA PreCheck or Global Entry credit
Access to American Express Fine Hotels + Resorts and Platinum Member Airfares
Access to Amex transfer partners
No foreign transaction fees (rates and fees)

Cons

$895 annual fee (rates & fees)
Airline credit does not cover airfare (only incidentals like checked bags).
Poor fit for infrequent travelers
Limited bonus categories for earning points

Great Card If

You travel often enough to take advantage of the travel perks.
You can use the annual credits (airline incidental fees, lululemon, prepaid hotels) and monthly credits (Uber, Equinox, digital entertainment).
You want global airport lounge access.
You want hotel elite status.
You want a luxury card with luxury benefits.

Don’t Get If

You don’t travel often.
You aren’t interested in the perks and credits.
You prefer a card with more bonus categories.

Is It Worth It? The Short Answer

With an $895 annual fee (rates & fees), the Amex Platinum card offers up to $2,950 in annual statement credits, making it one of the most valuable premium travel cards on paper. Frequent travelers who regularly use airport lounges, book Fine Hotels + Resorts stays, take Uber, and redeem even a handful of the available credits can easily come out ahead. Those who use only about half the credits may find the value more marginal, while travelers who don’t use lounges or don’t find value in many of the credits will likely struggle to offset the annual fee.

For a full breakdown of whether the card is worth it for various spending and travel habits, see “Is the Amex Platinum Card Worth It?“

Benefits at a Glance

SCROLL FOR MORE

Benefit	Detail
Rewards	5 points per $1 spent on flights purchased directly with the airline or with AmexTravel.com (up to $500,000 per year) (Source: American Express) 5 points per $1 spent on prepaid hotels booked with AmexTravel.com
Statement Credits	Receive up to $2,950 in annual statement credits. See the full list of Amex Platinum card statement credits. (Source: American Express).
Lounge Access	Access one of the largest airport lounge networks, including Centurion Lounges, Delta Sky Clubs (when flying Delta), and Priority Pass lounges. See complete Amex Platinum card lounge access details.
Hotel and Rental Car Status	Get elite status with Hilton Honors, Marriott Bonvoy, Hertz, National, and Avis. See Amex Platinum card hotel and rental elite status details.
Travel and Purchase Protections	Get valuable travel and purchase protections. See the Amex Platinum card complete travel and purchase protections guide.

Note that some of the benefits above require prior enrollment.

Upgraded Points Senior Content Contributor Katie Seemann had this to say about the lounge access offered with the Amex Platinum card:

“One of the main reasons I keep the Amex Platinum card in my wallet is for the lounge access. Of course, I love Centurion Lounges, but I value access to Escape Lounges more. That’s because the only lounge at my home airport is an Escape Lounge, so it’s what I use every single time I fly. Knowing I have a quiet place to wait for my flight with complimentary food and drinks is a perk that makes my travel day so much more enjoyable.”
Katie Seemann, Travel Partnerships Manager and Podcast Co-Host

Best Ways To Earn and Redeem Your Amex Points

Aside from using your card for everyday purchases, you want to learn how to earn as many Amex points as possible. Fortunately, we have a comprehensive guide covering all the best ways to earn Amex Membership Rewards points.

From there, learn about all the best ways to redeem your Amex points. This will help you start traveling like a pro while getting huge value out of your hard-earned points.

Some of our favorite ways to redeem Amex Membership Rewards points include utilizing certain Amex transfer partners to book business and first class tickets for a mere fraction of the typical cash price.

Alternative Cards to the Amex Platinum Card

Chase Sapphire Reserve^®

While the Chase Sapphire Reserve card doesn’t feature nearly the level of elite benefits that the Amex Platinum card does, this could be good if you’re after a more well-rounded travel card.

Check out our head-to-head comparison of the Amex Platinum card versus the Chase Sapphire Reserve card.

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

If you prefer a premium rewards card that offers airport lounge access at a lower annual fee, then the Capital One Venture X card could be a good fit for you.

Which card is right for you? See our detailed comparison of the Amex Platinum card versus the Capital One Venture X card.

A full overview of all American Express cards is available for those exploring their options.

Amex Platinum Card: Should You Get This Card?

There’s a reason why the Amex Platinum card regularly ranks as one of the best out there. The Amex Platinum card is easily worth it for anyone who can get more value out of the card than what the annual fee charges. For many, this isn’t as difficult as it might seem thanks to its up to $2,950 in annual credits, airport lounge access, hotel and rental car elite status, travel protections, and so on.

We’ve also compared the Amex Platinum card to several other popular cards:

If you currently have the Amex Gold card but are interested in the Amex Platinum card, we recommend you take a look at this Amex Platinum card upgrade offer.

UP’s Card Review Methodology

Every card we review is assigned a "U.P. Rating" – our star-based system that encompasses all the key details to showcase a card’s standout features, where it falls short, and how it stacks up for travelers to maximize rewards.

These ratings range from 0 to 5 stars and are determined by carefully weighing crucial factors like:

Bonus categories
Benefits and perks
Quality of associated loyalty programs
Annual fees and other costs
Size of the welcome bonus (and relative to the annual fee)
And several more

You can learn more about how Upgraded Points reviews and rates credit cards.

Amex Platinum Card: Full Review [2026]

Platinum Card^® from American Express

Apply With Confidence

Know if you're approved with no credit score impact

Platinum Card^® from American Express

Apply With Confidence

Know if you're approved with no credit score impact

Summary

Card Details

Welcome Bonus & Info

Card Categories

Rewards Center

Customer Service Number

Login Link

Pros & Cons

Pros

Cons

More Reads

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Great Card If

Don’t Get If

Is It Worth It? The Short Answer

Benefits at a Glance

Best Ways To Earn and Redeem Your Amex Points

Alternative Cards to the Amex Platinum Card

Chase Sapphire Reserve^®

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

Amex Platinum Card: Should You Get This Card?

UP’s Card Review Methodology

Platinum Card® from American Express

Apply With Confidence

Know if you're approved with no credit score impact

Platinum Card® from American Express

Apply With Confidence

Know if you're approved with no credit score impact

Summary

Card Details

Welcome Bonus & Info

Card Categories

Rewards Center

Customer Service Number

Login Link

Pros & Cons

Pros

Cons

More Reads

Related Articles

Great Card If

Don’t Get If

Is It Worth It? The Short Answer

Benefits at a Glance

Best Ways To Earn and Redeem Your Amex Points

Alternative Cards to the Amex Platinum Card

Amex Platinum Card: Should You Get This Card?

UP’s Card Review Methodology

Platinum Card^® from American Express

Platinum Card^® from American Express